The aim of this preliminary study was to assess the immune response of rabbits triggered by vaccination against myxomatosis. In experiments, 14 New Zealand White rabbits (7 does – D and 7 bucks – B at the age of 1 to 3 years) were used. Samples of rabbit peripheral blood (PB) were collected from a. auricularis centralis to heparinised tubes 2 weeks before and 4 days after the subcutaneous injection (0.5 mL) of vaccine against myxomatosis (Pharmavac MXT). Mononuclear cells from peripheral blood (PBMCs) were isolated using Ficoll centrifugation. Isolated PBMCs were then frozen and stored at -192 °C. For phenotyping, the frozen cells were thawed and stained with the following antirabbit monoclonal antibodies (mAbs): anti-IgM (NRBM, IgG1), anti-CD4 (RTH1A, IgG1), anti-CD8 (ISC27A, IgG2a), anti-pan T2 (RTH21A, IgG1) and anti-CD45 (L12/201, IgG1). As the secondary immunoreagent, fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) or Rphycoerythrin (R-PE) labelled anti-mouse conjugates of appropriate subisotypes were used. We found significantly (P<0.05) increased percentage of either T-cells (does D5 and D7, and bucks B5, B6 and B7), or B-cells (bucks B2 and B7) in the rabbit peripheral blood. In conclusion, fast and adequate immune response to antigen (vaccine against myxomatosis) was indicated by the increase in T lymphocyte subsets 4 days after immunization. Thus, rabbit does (D5 and D7) and bucks (B5, B6 and B7) might be selected to create F1 generation for the future experiments.

O crescimento mundial da população constitui preocupação global, pois, para além de outros fatores possíveis de existir, aumenta a demanda por alimentos. Os avanços na agricultura, biotecnologia e outras áreas, têm contribuído em grande medida para o aumento da produção de alimentos de origem animal e vegetal e promoção do aumento da produtividade, fator considerado fundamental para a segurança alimentar. A medida que aumenta a preocupação com a alimentação da população crescente, aumenta igualmente a preocupação com o uso racional dos recursos naturais e conservação da biodiversidade criando, assim, espaço para o surgimento e fortalecimento da agricultura orgânica em diversas regiões do mundo. Constitui objetivo deste trabalho, analisar as condições e oportunidades existentes para a promoção da agricultura orgânica no distrito de Sussundenga, província de Manica, em Moçambique. Para cumprir o objetivo, fez-se o uso de abordagens sobre cadeias produtivas agroindustriais e políticas públicas (especificamente agrícolas), associado ao trabalho de pesquisa de campo onde, além da observação das unidades de produção, foram realizadas entrevistas (i) aos produtores de milho e soja; (ii) ao envolvidos no ambiente organizacional. O resultado do estudo revelou, de um lado, a existência de condições no Distrito que favorecem a produção orgânica de milho e soja e, de outro, a existência de condições que não a favorecem. Diante das condições verificadas, chegou-se à conclusão de que apesar da fragilidade no ambiente institucional e falta de instituições de pesquisa e treinamento para a promoção da agricultura orgânica no distrito de Sussundenga, existem oportunidades para a introdução da agricultura orgânica, pois, as condições não favoráveis podem ser ultrapassadas pelo maior envolvimento do Estado (como provedor de política pública), envolvimento das universidades e outras instituições de pesquisa, que possam buscar informações e tecnologias em países próximos de Moçambique (sob ponto de vista geográfico e político). | The world population growth constitute a global concern because in addition to other possible factors, increases the demand for food. Advances in agriculture, biotechnology, and other sector, has contributed in a great way to increase the production of food of animal and vegetable origin and promoting increased productivity, a factor considered crucial for the growing population food security. As more concern about feeding the growing population also increases the concern for the rational use of natural resources and biodiversity conservation, creating opportunity for the emergence and strengthening of organic agriculture in many regions of the world. The objective of this work is to analyze the existing conditions and opportunities for the promotion of organic agriculture in Sussundenga district, in Manica province, Mozambique. To fullfil the objective was analysed the agribusiness production chains and public policy (mainly the agricultural policies), associated to a field work in which in addition to the observation of the production units, interviews were made to (i) corn and soybeans producers from Sussundenga district: (ii) those involved in organizational environment. The study results showed the existence of both favorable and not favorable conditions for corn and soybeans organic production in Sussundenga. According to the conditions observed can be concluded that despite the weakness in the institutional environment and lack of research and training institutions to promote organic agriculture in Sussundenga district, there are opportunities to introduce organic agriculture, because unfavorable conditions can be overcome by greater government involvement (as public policy provider), involvement of universities and other research institutions, which can bring information and technology from geographically and politically neighbor countries.

This paper uses data from the General Household Survey Panel 2010/11 to analyze differences in agricultural productivity across male and female plot managers in Nigeria. The analysis utilizes the Oaxaca-Blinder decomposition method, which allows for decomposing the unconditional gender gap into (i) the portion caused by observable differences in the factors of production (endowment effect) and (ii) the unexplained portion caused by differences in returns to the same observed factors of production (structural effect). The analysis is conducted separately for the North and South regions, excluding the west of the country. The findings show that in the North, women produce 28 percent less than men after controlling for observed factors of production, while there are no significant gender differences in the South. In the decomposition results, the structural effect in the North is larger than the endowment at the mean. Although women in the North have access to less productive resources than men, the results indicate that even if given the same level of inputs, significant differences still emerge. However for the South, the decomposition results show that the endowment effect is more important than the structural effect. Access to resources explains most of the gender gap in the South and if women are given the same level of inputs as men, the gap will be minimal. The difference in the results for the North and South suggests that policy should vary by region.

This paper uses data from the General Household Survey Panel 2010/11 to analyze differences in agricultural productivity across male and female plot managers in Nigeria. The analysis utilizes the Oaxaca-Blinder decomposition method, which allows for decomposing the unconditional gender gap into (i) the portion caused by observable differences in the factors of production (endowment effect) and (ii) the unexplained portion caused by differences in returns to the same observed factors of production (structural effect). The analysis is conducted separately for the North and South regions, excluding the west of the country. The findings show that in the North, women produce 28 percent less than men after controlling for observed factors of production, while there are no significant gender differences in the South. In the decomposition results, the structural effect in the North is larger than the endowment at the mean. Although women in the North have access to less productive resources than men, the results indicate that even if given the same level of inputs, significant differences still emerge. However for the South, the decomposition results show that the endowment effect is more important than the structural effect. Access to resources explains most of the gender gap in the South and if women are given the same level of inputs as men, the gap will be minimal. The difference in the results for the North and South suggests that policy should vary by region.

When the Soviet kolkhozy and sovkhozy were converted, a large number of agricultural production co-operatives was created. Most of these co-operatives still exist in Russia and some of them have a strong market position, accounting for almost one-third of the aggregate volume produced by large farms. This study explores whether social capital might be the explanation for this relative success, i.e. that members support their co-operative because they trust their fellow members as well as the leadership. Interviews with co-operative members resulted in 1401 usable answers. The results from an ordered logit model indicate that social capital plays a partial role. Members who consider co-operatives to be an efficient business form value social ties to other members, even though the leadership does not enjoy much social capital.

This study was carried out to see how well the objectives of the Nigerian Agricultural Insurance Scheme had been achieved in Ondo State. Multi-stage sampling technique was used to select 120 insured farmers from two local government areas and a well-structured questionnaire was used to collect data from the farmers. The data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The analysis shows that accessibility to credit was the only reason the farmers participated in the insurance scheme. However, the farmers affirmed that there was increase in investments which brought about increases in their output. Thus, their accessibility to farm credit could be said to be responsible for these increases. Hence, some of the objectives of the agricultural insurance scheme to increase agricultural production and accessibility to credit had been achieved.

This study was carried out to see how well the objectives of the Nigerian Agricultural Insurance Scheme had been achieved in Ondo State. Multi-stage sampling technique was used to select 120 insured farmers from two local government areas and a well-structured questionnaire was used to collect data from the farmers. The data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The analysis shows that accessibility to credit was the only reason the farmers participated in the insurance scheme. However, the farmers affirmed that there was increase in investments which brought about increases in their output. Thus, their accessibility to farm credit could be said to be responsible for these increases. Hence, some of the objectives of the agricultural insurance scheme to increase agricultural production and accessibility to credit had been achieved.

In course of the research there was analyzed formation of level of a gain from realization of production of the agricultural organizations of the Republic of Belarus for 2012 by means of production functions. Tendencies of influence of the cumulative capital and work on formation of end results of an agricultural production were studied. Sizes of limiting and average productivity of resources for the analyzed period were established. Features of use of resources in an agricultural production in a cut of areas of the country were considered. Two groups of the agricultural enterprises with different efficiency of use of resources were allocated. It was revealed, that the increase in manufacture of agricultural production most effectively occurred at the expense of work growth. The increase in revenues from sales of goods, products, works and services in modern conditions the most effective was due to the growth of labor costs, as the increase of a factor of production by 1% led to an increase in the effective rate at 0.731%. The total value of the elasticity for 2012 (0.956) indicated that the expansion of the production scale in agricultural production would have a positive effect only when changed in technology and production in modern conditions would allow less efficient conversion factors of production in the final product.